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Forum Discussion

Jarno R.'s avatar
Jarno R.
New member | Level 1
3 hours ago

Folder in "shared" that is not shared

In left-side menu I go to "shared" where I can see all my shared file/folder. In there I see a folder that has not active shared option (link or user). Maybe it had previously, but not today. So whay I still have this folder in the "shared" section of my account? If I click on the 3-dots menu I see "remove from Dropbox" and nothing like "remove from Sharing". I dont undestand the logic behind this. Could you advise please?

  • Folders always stay shared unless they are actively unshared - but, it is possible that somebody who has shared it previously has actually left the share without unsharing it. Hence you get the menu options you have. If you were owner you'd be allowed to unshare it, however, as you arent you can only remove from Dropbox - which basically takes it out of your Dropbox account and so takes the files out and gives you the space back. 

    If you want to keep any info from it copy / move those files to your account first and then 'remove from Dropbox'. 

  • Jarno R.'s avatar
    Jarno R.
    New member | Level 1

    I made the copy of that folder and I removed the original one from my dropbox. Ths procedure didnt delete that folder, because it was still there, with 2 option:

    • join it again
    • or abbandon it

    I chose to abbandon it and that makes the folder to disappear from my dropbox, so it worked.

    Here my concern: is that folder still anywhere in the cloud, abbandoned with all the content inside, with no active owner and with no member now? 🤔

  • Jarno R.'s avatar
    Jarno R.
    New member | Level 1

    Thank you Mark. 

    So I'm the only one who can access to that folder (and I have edit credentials) but for some reason I'm not the owner, hence I cannot completely unshare it. Ok, I try to duplicate that folder and then delete the orginal one as you suggested.

    Anyway, I think Dropbox should improve the information and clarity of the UI. If I'm not the owner of a folder, or I'm not the owner of specific sharing, we should easily know from the UI who is (or was) the owner of sharing.... we seem like cats chasing their tails otherwise.

    Thank you again Mark.

  • Mark's avatar
    Mark
    Icon for Super User II rankSuper User II

    Folders always stay shared unless they are actively unshared - but, it is possible that somebody who has shared it previously has actually left the share without unsharing it. Hence you get the menu options you have. If you were owner you'd be allowed to unshare it, however, as you arent you can only remove from Dropbox - which basically takes it out of your Dropbox account and so takes the files out and gives you the space back. 

    If you want to keep any info from it copy / move those files to your account first and then 'remove from Dropbox'.